Nearly a thousand years after his death, his influence is still felt every day in the Armenian Church. The soaring hymns that praise God, the sensitive prayers that beg His forgiveness, the policies of mercy and outreach that guide the operations of the church—all bear the mark of St. Nersess Shnorhali. His title Shnorhali means “full of grace”—and the…

The Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God commemorates how St. Mary at her death was taken up in body and soul, or “assumed,” into heaven. This act of tenderness was performed by Christ many years after his Ascension, as a loving tribute to the mother who bore and raised him. On this feast…

In recent years, an old Armenian New Year’s custom has gained new traction in our community: the “Blessing of Pomegranates” ceremony. Aside from being a delicious, exotic fruit native to our homeland, the pomegranate is also richly symbolic in Armenian folklore. Learn about its legend and lore in the latest video of the Eastern Diocese’s…